Well Visits and Vaccine Schedule

Well visits are extremely important to your child’s growth and development. By functioning as your primary care medical home, UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics encourages you to comply with your well visit schedule so that we can provide comprehensive care.

While each age may have a slightly modified well visit, they all provide the same benefits. During a well visit, your child will receive a physical as well as any necessary vaccinations that would be appropriate at that time. In Pennsylvania, schools require children receive certain vaccinations or they will be excluded from school. UPMC CCP follows these vaccination requirements, and those outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, very closely. The visits also provide an opportunity for you, or your child, to talk to your pediatrician about any questions or issues you may have.

During your child’s first year of life, you will frequent the doctor for well visits. However, as your child ages, these visits are still crucial to maintaining good health. Take a look at the various ages below to gain a better understanding of what occurs during these well visits.

Initial Visit in Labor & Delivery Hospital

Once you have delivered your baby, please tell the hospital staff which UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics’ office you have chosen for your baby’s care. Depending upon the hospital, either a member of the UPMC CCP care team or a hospital-based pediatrician will examine your baby before they leave the hospital.

Also, before you are discharged, your baby will receive his or her first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine.

Initial Visit at a UPMC CCP Location

This initial visit typically occurs as soon as necessary after discharge, usually within two to three days unless recommended otherwise by the pediatrician.

During this visit, the office staff will do initial measurements, including height, weight and head circumference. The doctor will then examine your child, checking reflexes, looking for signs of jaundice, ensuring the umbilical cord is healing properly and more.

One Month

At your one-month check-up, your baby will once again receive a full examination, including height, weight and head circumference, to ensure that he or she is developing properly.

At this time, it is also UPMC CCP protocol to provide moms with a post-partum depression screening – we are here for our new moms and their children. For more information about how we care for our new moms, watch our video.

Two Months

At two months, your baby will once again receive a full examination, including height, weight and head circumference, to ensure that he or she is developing properly. Your child will also receive the next round of immunizations, which include:

If you miss this appointment, or any others during the first few years of life, it will delay the entire vaccination schedule. It is key that you make it to each appointment, or promptly reschedule should you need to.

Four Months

At four months, your baby will once again receive a full examination, including height, weight and head circumference, to ensure that he or she is developing properly. Your child will also receive the next round of immunizations, which include:

Six Months

At six months, your baby will once again receive a full examination, including height, weight and head circumference, to ensure that he or she is developing properly. Your child will also receive the next round of immunizations, which include:

Nine Months

At nine months, your baby will once again receive a full examination, including height, weight and head circumference, to ensure that he or she is developing properly.

Your doctor will also conduct lead and hemoglobin tests, and your child will have an initial autism screening.

Some preventative services may result in an additional charge. We recommend contacting your insurance company to verify your coverage before services are provided.

12 Months

As we celebrate that big one-year milestone, your pediatric office will review growth and development over the past year – including height, weight, and head circumference – and conduct a vision test. Your child will also receive the next round of immunizations, which include:

Starting at 12 months – or after the first tooth erupts until 5-years-old – your child can receive fluoride varnish. This varnish will help protect against tooth decay and is a very quick process.

Some preventative services may result in an additional charge. We recommend contacting your insurance company to verify your coverage before services are provided.

14-15 Months

We recommend having your baby seen between 14 and 15 months for a full examination, including height, weight and head circumference, to ensure that he or she is developing properly. Your child will also receive the next round of immunizations, which include:

Some preventative services may result in an additional charge. We recommend contacting your insurance company to verify your coverage before services are provided.

18 Months

At 18 months, your baby will once again receive a full examination, including height, weight and head circumference, to ensure that he or she is developing properly. Your child will also receive the next round of immunizations, which include:

Your child will also have a follow-up autism screening.

Some preventative services may result in an additional charge. We recommend contacting your insurance company to verify your coverage before services are provided.

Toddler Years (Age 2-5)

Once your child reaches age two, you won’t see your pediatrician as frequently as you did during the initial year. However, it is still important to schedule a yearly well visit so that your pediatrician can continue to monitor growth. During ages two to five, your physician will complete many tests including:

  • Autism screenings will occur at two and two and a half years old.
  • Lead and hemoglobin tests will occur at the two-year visit.
  • Vision and hearing tests are done at 4 and 5-year-old visits, and some practices offer it at other ages as well.
  • Developmental screenings that will test your child’s cognitive and physical abilities.

Your child will also receive booster vaccinations during this time frame. At age four, they will be ready to receive:

Before entering kindergarten at age 5, your child must be compliant with all Pennsylvania required vaccines and have a valid well-child visit and dental exam.

Help your child fight the flu before it starts. UPMC CCP pediatricians, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommend that all children receive the flu vaccine.

Some preventative services may result in an additional charge. We recommend contacting your insurance company to verify your coverage before services are provided.

School Age Years (Age 6-9)

During the grade school years, your well visits provide a perfect opportunity for you to discuss any learning or behavioral issues that may be occurring. Your pediatric office will also monitor growth and can aid with nutritional services if need be.

Help your child fight the flu before it starts. UPMC CCP pediatricians, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommend that all children receive the flu vaccine.

Make sure your child visits the dentist. Pennsylvania requires a valid dental exam to enter the third grade. Your UPMC CCP office can make recommendations on local dentists to consider.

Protect Your Child from Cancer

UPMC CCP strives to protect your children against the threat of disease at any stage of their lives. That’s why we promote HPV vaccination for all our young adolescent patients. The CDC recommends children aged 9 and older receive the two-dose series.

Lipid and Cholesterol Screening

Heart disease remains a leading cause of death and health problems in adults. Research supports that children and teenagers with abnormal cholesterol are at higher risk for having heart disease, obesity, and other complications in adulthood. Quality standards for preventive care recommend lipid screening at least once before puberty (age 9-11), as a young adult (age 17+), and at other visits when risk factors are present. Talk with your care team to learn more.

Some preventative services may result in an additional charge. We recommend contacting your insurance company to verify your coverage before services are provided.

Tween Years (Ages 10-12)

As your child enters the tween years, your UPMC CCP office is here to help with the transition from elementary to middle school. We’ll help you work through any learning or growth obstacles that your child may encounter.

Your child will also receive the following vaccinations:

Help your child fight the flu before it starts. UPMC CCP pediatricians, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommend that all children receive the flu vaccine.

Lipid and Cholesterol Screening

Heart disease remains a leading cause of death and health problems in adults. Research supports that children and teenagers with abnormal cholesterol are at higher risk for having heart disease, obesity, and other complications in adulthood. Quality standards for preventive care recommend lipid screening at least once before puberty (age 9-11), as a young adult (age 17+), and at other visits when risk factors are present. Talk with your care team to learn more.

Some preventative services may result in an additional charge. We recommend contacting your insurance company to verify your coverage before services are provided.

Teen Years (13-18)

Much like the tween years, the teenage years are a crucial development time. We will ask parents to step outside of the exam room so that our doctors and nurses can talk candidly with your teen. We’ve found that without mom and dad around, teens are often more willing to open up about school issues, peer pressure and other things on their mind.

If your teen is active in sports, you can have your sports physical completed as part of your well visit. Our physicians have the most up-to-date medical history on your child and will complete a thorough heart health check, musculoskeletal history and a neurological exam.

Well visits are also important to complete prior to getting a driver’s license or going off to college. Vaccines are also required before entry into the 12th grade:

  • Meningococcal Vaccines: The first dose of this vaccine is given between ages 11 and 15, and a second dose is required by age 16 or before entry into the 12th grade.
  • Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccines: Between the ages of 16 and 18, some patients may receive this vaccination as well.

Help your child fight the flu before it starts. UPMC CCP pediatricians, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommend that all children receive the flu vaccine.

Some preventative services may result in an additional charge. We recommend contacting your insurance company to verify your coverage before services are provided.

Young Adult (18–21)

Prior to going to college, check to make sure your child is up-to-date on all vaccines. Many colleges require that students receive the meningococcal vaccines.

Your UPMC CCP office is here for your child into early adulthood. Most of our offices will continue treating illnesses and providing preventative care for patients up to age 21.

Some preventative services may result in an additional charge. We recommend contacting your insurance company to verify your coverage before services are provided.

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